Toy airplane



March 1 7, 1936.

J. M. H. JACOBS 2,034,143

TOY AIRPLANE Filed June 6, 19575 INVENTOR,

v 44 A TTOR/VEY Patented Mar. 17, 1936 lED STATES ATENT FFICE.

13 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in toy airplanes.

The principal object of my invention is to provide for toy airplanes, means for automatically controlling the angle of incidence of the plane between high and low velocities. At the start of the flight the velocity of the plane is greater than at the conclusion of that flight. But by the use of my automatic control, the angle of incidence during the high velocity of the plane will be lower than that angle will be near the end of the flight. In other words, as the velocity decreases, the angle of incidence increases until the maximum angle for gliding is reached. This will be the angle for the remainder of the flight, provided its velocity is not increased by such forces as gusts.

My automatic means for achieving the foregoing results preferably comprises a mounting for the elevator which permits the latter to automatically adjust its angularity with reference to the main wing. This automatic adjustment is within certain limits defined by the engagement of the front and rear ends of the elevator bearing with the horizontal rigid mounting member. By looking the rear end of the bearing member in contact with the rear end of the mounting member by elastic means such as a rubber band, the elevator will be held at a less angle of incidence than that of the main wing, for a straight away flight. However, the center of gravity may be adjusted so that the elevator will require a greater angle of incidence than that of the main wing.

It is another object of my invention to provide for the elevator mounting, a slotted supporting piece, with the slots sufiiciently in advance of the balancing point to receive elastic means such as rubber bands that yieldingly permit the elevator to accommodate itself to the increasing and decreasing air pressures thereon. If the air pressures exerted upon the elevator and rudder increase, the angle of incidence of the elevator will decrease for faster flight; while decreasing air pressures upon the elevator and rudder will permit the elastic means to increase the angle of incidence of the elevator.

To bring about the results just mentioned, the elastic means are in the rear slots of one form of mounting. If placed within the front slots, the elevator Will be more rigidly held at a fairly high angle of incidence, causing the plane to fly in a barrel roll or autogyration, or to execute an Immelmann turn. In another form of my elevator mounting, the elastic means may be placed in lower and upper slots to accomplish similar results.

It is another object of my invention to provide a trigger controlled by the tension of a rubber band motor, to hold the elevator at a smaller angle of incidence with reference to the main wing when the motor is wound up, and to release the elevator to permit the latter to assume a larger angle of incidence when the energy stored in the rubber band motor becomes less.

Another object of my invention is to provide a main wing base or support which forms the wing to the desired camber and di-hedral. Slots are provided under the wing base in the body member to permit a fore and aft movement of the main wing to change the center of gravity.

It is another object of my invention to provide a propeller-support that is formed over the rubber band motor, torque rod and front end of the plane body to hold said body and torque rod in proper alinement and protect the front end of the plane against damage incident to impact shocks.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a smooth-faced nose piece on the front end of the plane body below the propeller support, said nose piece being formed With recesses in its rear edges to receive the hooked ends of an elastic projector. By removing the propeller, rubber band motor and the trigger, and readjusting the center of gravity, the airplane can be flown as a glider.

Other important and incidental objects will be brought out in the following specification and particularly set forth in the subjoined claims.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating the invention, Figure 1 is a side elevational View of a toy airplane embodying my improvements. Figure 2 is a detail side view of one form of elevator and rudder mounting. Figure 3 is a rear end view of the mounting piece shown in Figure 2. Figure 4 is a perspective view of the nose cap and elastic projector. Figure 5 is a perspective view of another form of mounting. Figure 6 is a perspective view of a slotted supporting piece for the elevator. Figure '7 is a perspective view of the band-motor controlled trigger for holding the elevator at a smaller angle of incidence when the motor is wound up, and for releasing the elevator to assume a larger angle of incidence when the energy stored in the motor becomes less. Figure 8 is a perspective view of the elevator mounting employed with the trigger. Figure 9 is a front view of the main wing and the base or support therefor which forms the wing to the desired camber and di-hedral. Figure 10 is a top plan view thereof. Figure 11 is a front view of the propeller and its slotted hub. Figure 12 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through said propeller along its hub portion. Figure 13 is a perspective view of the hub portion propeller support. And Figure 14 is a perspective view of the rudder and elevator attaching means disclosed in Figure 1.

Referring to the accompanying drawing for a detailed description of the forms of embodiment of my invention disclosed therein, the numeral l designates a fiat, relatively thin fuselage constructed in this instance of wood. Fitted to the front end of the fuselage l is a nose cap 2 which preferably consists of a metal stamping having smooth sides. As shown in Figure 4, this stamping is formed with recesses 3 in its rear edges to receive the hooked ends 3 of a U-shaped piece attached to an elastic projector 3*.

Attached to the top of the flat fuselage l is a grooved torque rod or base member 4. Fitted over the front end of the member 4, just above the nose cap 2, is a propeller support 5. The latter comprises a metal stamping formed as shown in Figure 13, for the purpose of having its split channel portions 6, E tightly fitted over the torque rod 4 and against the sides of the fuselage to hold the rod and fuselage in proper alinement. The stamp-ing 5 has a vertical, front, channel end 1 that is formed with a hole 8 to receive the pin shaft 9 of a propeller Ill. If desired, the stampings 2 and 5 may be made in one piece.

Referring to Figures 1, l1 and 12, the propeller I0 is fitted in a longitudinal slot in a hub l I. At right angles to this slot there is formed in this hub a slot l 2 which extends past the propeller to receive a hook l3 on the front end of the pin shaft 9. The shaft itself projects through an axial hole in the hub H on one side of the propeller, so that the hook l3 may be forced over the propeller into the slot 12 to prevent it from turning loosely on the shaft.

At its rear end the base member 4 is formed with a vertical slot to receive an upright trigger guide-member I4 which is tightly glued therein. The member l4 has a wide bottom which projects rearwardly into a slot in the front end of a grooved elevator base l5, that is tightly fitted to the rear top edge of the fuselage I. This guide member stands between the spaced wings l6, N5 of a trigger IT. The latter is a stamping which has a flat base I8 that merges into an inclined vertical portion formed with the wings l6, l6 and terminating at its top end in a hook 20 which receives a looped wire link 2! to which the rear end of an elastic motor is secured. This motor preferably comprises twisted rubber strands 22 which are received at their front portions by a hook 23 on the rear end of the propeller shaft 9. The looped wire link 2| passes on each side of the fixed guide member M to avoid contact with the latter. The base portion l8 of the trigger stamping is notched near its rear end to receive a rubber band 24 by which it is elastically attached to the fuselage I. The purpose of the trigger 11 will be hereinafter described.

For the purpose of yieldingly attaching a cambered and di-hedraled main plane or wing 25, constructed of wood or other suitable material, to the fuselage I, I provide the following means. Referring to Figures 1, 9 and 10, the numeral 26 designates a wing base which may be made of metal or other suitable material. In the present instance it is a metal stamping which is so constructed as to form the wing which it receives, to the desired camber and di-hedral. This stamping, as shown in Figure 10, may be V- shaped in cross section, terminating at each end in a metal projection 21 which is bent upwardly and forwardly to receive elastic means such as rubber bands 28 and 29.

The rubber band 28 is passed through a slot 30 in the fuselage I immediately below the torque rod 4 and the rear projection 21, whereby it may be brought upwardly around said rod, on each side of said projection, for passage over the wing 25 and around the front projection 2'1. The rubber band 29 is passed through a slot 3| in the fuselage I immediately below the torque rod 4 and the front projection 21, whereby it may be brought upwardly around said rod, on each side of said projection, for passage over the wing 25 and around the rear projection 21. These rubber bands 28 and 29, thus anchored to the fuselage, form the wing to the same shape'as the metal stamping 26 in respect to camber and di-hedral. If desired, the wing may be mounted on the bottom of the stamping 26 when used in a low wing type of plane.

The elevator and rudder mounting will now be described. Fitted to the grooved base I5 is a mounting member 32 which comprises a metal stamping of the shape illustrated in Figure 8. The front part of this stamping is formed with turned up sides 33, 33, and the rear portion with turned downsides 34, 34 which are formed partly around the base I 5 with suflicient tension to permit the stamping to be moved fore and aft for adjustment. Between the sides 33 and 34 the stamping 32 is bent upwardly as shown in Figures 1, '7 and 8, to form a raised mounting for an elevator soon to be described. From its turned-up portion the front part of the stamping inclines downwardly to the base l5, having a front end part 35 which in the present instance projects under the flat base l8 of the trigger it.

Mounted on the top of the turned-up portion of the stamping 32 as a fulcrum, is an alining base member 36 for an elevator 31. The latter in this instance is positioned between the base member 36 and a grooved base member 38 of a rudder 39. The rudder base member 38 is elastically secured to the elevator 31 by a rubber band 40 which is passed over the ends of said base member and under the elevator. A rubber band 4| is passed through an aperture 42 in the rear upper part of the fuselage I, after which it is twisted over the front end of the rudder base 38 and thence extended rearwardly beneath the elevator 31, for passage over the rear end of the elevator base 36.

Extending laterally from each side of the stamping 32, near the base of its bent up portion, are two arms 43, 43, which have upwardly and forwardly projecting portions containing lateral slots 43*, 43 Formed in the lower portions of the arms 43, 43 are slots 43 43 at right angles to the slots 43*, 43 (See Figure 8.)

An elastic means such as the rubber band 43 secured in the fuselage aperture 42, extends upwardly through the clearance slots 43 43 after which it is twisted over the front end of the rudder base 38 and then extended back on each side of the rudder 39 for passage under the rear end of the elevator base 36. The elevator base 36 is adjustable fore and aft over the raised portion of the stamping 32 as a fulcrum, to a position to give the elevator 31 an increased angle of incidence as shown in Figure 1, or a decreased angle of incidence as shown in dotted lines in said figure, and is firmly held in either one of these positions by the tension of the rubber band 43 that has a free movement through the clearance slots 43 43 The rubber band 4 I, which also passes through the aperture 42 in the fuselage, extends upwardly through the slots 43, 43 in the raised portions of the arms 43, 43, after which it is twisted over the front end of the rudder base 38 and thence extended rearwardly beneath the elevator 31, for passage over the rear end of the elevator base member 36. Now, as the speed of the plane increases, the air drag on the elevator and rudder also increases, forcing the base member 36 rearwardly against the tension ofthe rubber band 4|, which will draw the elevator and rudder forwardly as the speed of the plane decreases.

When the elevator and rudder are forced rearwardly by the air drag, the band 43 will move rearwardly with them, through the slots 43' 43 to a position behind the raised fulcrum edge of the mounting member 32. The band 43, when in this position draws the rear end of the elevator base member 36 downwardly to reduce the angle of incidence of the elevator, thereby causing the main plane to fly at a smaller angle of incidence. When the elevator and rudder are again moved forwardly by the rubber band 4|, due to decreased speed of the plane, the band 43 will move forwardly through the slots 43 43 to a position in front of the raised fulcrum edge of the mounting member 32. The band 43 now will draw the front end of the elevator base member 36 downwardly to increase the angle of incidence of the elevator, thereby causing the main plane to fly at an increased angle of incidence.

It is thus seen that I have provided for the elevator, a mounting which automatically enables it to accommodate its angle of incidence to the speed of the plane. This feature, as well as others which I have illustrated and described in this application, is applicable to a full-sized airplane.

As will be observed from Figure 1, the front end of the elevator base member 36 projects over the fiat base portion l8 of the trigger "5. Now, when the elastic motor 22 is completely wound, it will exert a suflicient pull upon the upper part ll of the trigger 16 to cause the lower end N3 of the latter to raise the front end of the elevator base member 36. This reduces the angle of incidence of the elevator 31 to prevent the looping of the plane at the beginning of the flight. When the power of the rubber band motor 22 is being reduced, the rubber band 4| is permitted to gradually increase the angle of incidence of the elevator to its maximum gliding angle. The turned-up sides 33, 33 of the mounting member 32 act as guides for the front end of the elevator base 36 during its up and down movement.

If it is desired to loop the plane after it is projected into the air, the front end of the elevator base 36 is placed under the fiat base portion l8 of the trigger [6 so that the elevator 3'! will remain fixed in a looping position. For a straight-away flight, the rubber band 43 is placed around the rear ends of both the base 36 and the fuselage I.

The elevator base member 36 carried by the mounting 32, may be moved rearwardly by that mounting away from the trigger l6, or the trigger mechanism, propeller and elastic motor may be dispensed with when the plane is used as a glider. In this instance, I may use a mounting member such as the metal stamping 44 shown in Figures 5 and 6. This stamping is turned up to form a raised fulcrum 45 for the elevator base 36, and a fiat forwardly and downwardly extended portion 47. Formed in the sides of this fiat portion 4'! are oppositely disposed slots 48 and 49 to receive the rubber band 4 I. When the rubber band is in the front slots 48, 48, the elevator 3'! is more firmly and elastically mounted to cause the plane to make short loops, barrel rolls or Immelmann turns. If the rubber band 4| is placed in the rear slots 49, 49, the elevator will automatically adjust itself to increased and decreased speeds.

In Figure 2 I have illustrated an elevator and rudder mounting comprising a grooved base- 56 fitted to the rear top edge of the fuselage l. The rudder 52 is secured to a grooved base 53 which is in turn attached by a rubber band 54 to the base member 55 of an elevator 56.

The mounting piece which I employ for the elevator and rudder in this instance, is a stamping which is formed with a middle channel portion 5! to receive that part of the rudder base 53 which projects beyond the front end of the elevator base 55. This stamping is also formed with a downwardly turned channel part 58 which tightly fits the mounting base 50, and with a forward edge portion formed with a lower pair of slots 59 and an upper pair of slots 59 to receive the strands of a rubber band 60.

At its rear end the stamping is formed with inwardly projecting ears 6|, 6i that form a fulcrum ledge 62 for the rudder base 53, andwith an arched top 63 to provide a guide for the rudder and elevator construction. This guide takes the place of the rubber band 43 in the construction shown in Figure 7, and although it does not hold the rudder base in either one of its adjusted positions, it permits a free movement thereto in either direction.

One rubber band only, to wit, the band 69 is employed to attach the combination elevator and rudder construction yieldingly to the mounting piece. This band passes rearwardly from the lower slots 59 or the upper slots 59 in the mounting piece over the elevator 56 and under the rear end of the elevator base member 55. The rubber band 66 is designed to draw the elevator and rudder forwardly until the front end of the elevator base contacts the ears 61, 6|. During the fore and aft movement of the rudder base 53, the arched guide 63 will properly hold it upon the fulcrum seat at all times.

If the rubber band 66 is placed in the upper slots 59*, it will be given sufiicient added tension to hold the elevator in an immovable position to resist the effect of the air currents when the speed of the plane is increased, thus enabling it to execute an Immelmann turn.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. An airplane comprising a fuselage, a main plane fixed thereon, .an elevator, a base member for the latter, a fulcrum on the fuselage for adjustably supporting the elevator base member, said base member adapted to be moved rearwardly over said fulcrum by air pressure when the speed of the plane increases, elastic means secured to the fuselage and extending over said fulcrum and connected to the base member to draw it forwardly when the speed of the plane decreases, and elastic means connected between said fuselage and elevator base member to hold the elevator at a decreased angle of incidence when said base member is moved rearwardly by air pressures and to hold the elevator at an increased angle of incidence when the base member is moved forwardly by the first elastic means.

2. An airplane comprising a fuselage, a main plane fixed thereon, an elevator, a base member for the latter, a rudder, a base member for the rudder attached to the elevator, a mounting member secured to said fuselage for the elevator and rudder, said member having a raised portion to provide a fulcrum, and a portion attached to the fuselage, arms on said member near its raised portion, elevated portions on said arms formed with lateral slots in advance of said fulcrum, said arms formed with clearance slots parallel with the body portion of the mounting member, an elastic means secured to the fuselage, extending through the lateral slots, over the elevator and around the rear end of the elevator base member, and elastic means also connected to the fuselage extending through the clearance slots, and being twisted over the front end of the rudder base member, thence passing rearwardly over the elevator on each side of the rudder, and around the rear end of the elevator base member for the purpose specified.

3. An airplane toy comprising a fuselage, a main plane fixed thereon, a base member secured on the rear portion of the fuselage, a mounting piece fitted on said base member, an elevator, a base member for the latter, resting on the mounting piece as a fulcrum, and means co -acting with said mounting piece and the elevator base member to enable the elevator to automatically adjust itself to increased and decreased speeds.

4. An airplane toy comprising a fuselage, a main plane fixed thereon, a base member secured on the rear portion of the fuselage, a mounting piece fitted on said base member, an elevator, a base member for the latter, resting on the mounting piece as a fulcrum, and means for firmly and elastically holding the elevator base member on the mounting piece to cause the plane to make short loops, barrel rolls or an Immelmann turn.

5. An airplane toy comprising a fuselage, a main plane fixed thereon, a base member secured on the rear portion of the fuselage, a mounting piece fitted on said base member, having a fulcrum portion and a forwardly extending slotted portion, an elevator, a base member for the latter, resting on the fulcrum portion of the mounting piece, and elastic means connected to the fuselage and extending through the slotted portion of the mounting piece and over the elevator for passage around the rear end of the elevator base member.

6. An airplane toy comprising a fuselage, a main plane fixed thereon, a base member secured on the rear portion of the fuselage, a mounting piece fitted on said base member, having a fulcrum portion and a forwardly extending portion, the latter formed with two pairs of oppositely disposed slots in its sides, an elevator, a base member for the latter, resting on the fulcrum portion of the mounting piece, and elastic means connected. to the fuselage and adapted to be passed through one or the other pair of said slots and then over the elevator for passage around the rear end of the elevator base member.

7. An airplane toy comprising a fuselage, a main plane fixed thereon, a mounting piece fitted on the rear top portion of the fuselage, an elevator. a base member for said elevator, resting on said mounting piece as a fulcrum, elastic means for normally holding the front portion of the elevator base member inclined toward the fuselage, a propeller mounted on the front end of the fuselage, an elastic motor for rotating said propeller, and means connected to said elastic motor for raising the front end of the elevator base member when the motor is wound, and for permitting it to descend when said motor unwinds, for the purpose specified.

8. An airplane toy comprising a fuselage, a main plane fixed thereon, a mounting piece fitted on the rear top portion of the fuselage, an elevator, a base member for said elevator, resting on said mounting piece as a fulcrum, elastic means for normally holding the front portion of the elevator base member inclined toward the fuselage, a propeller on the front end of the fuselage, a rubber band motor for rotating said propeller, and a trigger mounted on the rear portion of the fuselage to receive one end of said rubber band motor, the free end of said trigger projecting under the elevator base member to raise the latter when the rubber band motor is being wound, and for permitting it to descend when the motor unwinds, for the purpose specifled.

9. An airplane toy comprising a fuselage, a main plane fixed thereon, a base member secured on the rear portion of the fuselage, a mounting piece fitted on said base member, said mounting piece comprising a metal stamping having on its rear portion downwardly turned sides which are formed partly around said base member to permit it to be adjusted fore and aft on the latter, said stamping having a raised portion and a forwardly and downwardly inclined front portion, upwardly turned sides on said front portion, an elevator, at base for the latter resting on the raised portion of said stamping as a fulcrum, the free end of said base adapted to move up and down between the up-turned sides of the stamping as guides, a slotted projection on each side of said stamping in front of its raised portion, and elastic means connected to said fuselage and extending over said slotted projections and the elevator for passage around the rear end of the elevator base member.

10. An airplane toy comprising a fuselage, a plane, a mounting member for the latter on said fuselage, a projection on each end of said mounting member, an upwardly and outwardly bent projection on each end of said mounting memher, the fuselage being formed with two fore and aft slots, one under each projection, a rubber band passing through one slot, over the plane and around the projection over the second slot, and a second rubber band extended through the second slot, over the plane, and around the front projection, said rubber bands co-acting with the mounting member in forming the plane to the proper camber and di-hedral.

11. Am airplane toy comprising a fuselage, a plane mounted on said fuselage, a propeller support on the latter, a pin shaft for said propeller projecting through said support, a rubber band connected to said shaft, and a hub for said propeller, said hub formed with an axial slot, and with, a radial slot, the pin shaft projecting through the axial slot along one side of the propeller, after which it is bent over the outer edge of the same into the radial slot to firmly secure said propeller to said shaft.

12. An airplane toy comprising a fuselage, a

main plane fixed thereon, a base member secured on the rear portion of the fuselage, a mounting piece fitted on said base member, a fulcrum seat on said mounting piece, an arched guide over the fulcrum seat on said mounting piece, a connected elevator and rudder, a base member for said connected elevator and rudder, free to move through said guide over the fulcrum seat, the front edge of the mounting piece being formed with slots, and elastic means adapted to be passed through selected ones of said slots and then over the elevator for passage under the rear end of the base member for the connected elevator and rudder.

13. An airplane toy comprising a flat fuselage,

a base member mounted on the top edge of said fuselage, a main plane mounted on said base member, a propeller, a shaft for the latter, a support for the shaft, a vertical channel end piece having reinforcing flanges to receive said shaft, and a split fore and aft extension on said support, formed over the base member against the flat side portion of the fuselage to hold the fiat portion of the fuselage in proper alinement with said base member.

- JAMES M. H. JACOBS. 

